Gibbon\'smisrepresentationliesintheambiguousexpression\"toooften。\"WeretheepistlesarrangedinadifferentmannerintheeditionconsultedbyM。Guizot?—M。]
Thesoberdiscretionofthepresentagewillmorereadilycensurethanadmire，butcanmoreeasilyadmirethanimitate，thefervorofthefirstChristians，who，accordingtothelivelyexpressionsofSulpiciusSeverus，desiredmartyrdomwithmoreeagernessthanhisowncontemporariessolicitedabishopric。^92
TheepistleswhichIgnatiuscomposedashewascarriedinchainsthroughthecitiesofAsia，breathesentimentsthemostrepugnanttotheordinaryfeelingsofhumannature。HeearnestlybeseechestheRomans，thatwhenheshouldbeexposedintheamphitheatre，theywouldnot，bytheirkindbutunseasonableintercession，deprivehimofthecrownofglory；andhedeclareshisresolutiontoprovokeandirritatethewildbeastswhichmightbeemployedastheinstrumentsofhisdeath。^93Somestoriesarerelatedofthecourageofmartyrs，whoactuallyperformedwhatIgnatiushadintended；whoexasperatedthefuryofthelions，pressedtheexecutionertohastenhisoffice，cheerfullyleapedintothefireswhichwerekindledtoconsumethem，anddiscoveredasensationofjoyandpleasureinthemidstofthemostexquisitetortures。Severalexampleshavebeenpreservedofazealimpatientofthoserestraintswhichtheemperorshadprovidedforthesecurityofthechurch。TheChristianssometimessuppliedbytheirvoluntarydeclarationthewantofanaccuser，rudelydisturbedthepublicserviceofpaganism，^94andrushingincrowdsroundthetribunalofthemagistrates，calleduponthemtopronounceandtoinflictthesentenceofthelaw。ThebehavioroftheChristianswastooremarkabletoescapethenoticeoftheancientphilosophers；buttheyseemtohaveconsidereditwithmuchlessadmirationthanastonishment。Incapableofconceivingthemotiveswhichsometimestransportedthefortitudeofbelieversbeyondtheboundsofprudenceorreason，theytreatedsuchaneagernesstodieasthestrangeresultofobstinatedespair，ofstupidinsensibility，orofsuperstitiousfrenzy。^95
\"Unhappymen!\"exclaimedtheproconsulAntoninustotheChristiansofAsia；\"unhappymen!ifyouarethuswearyofyourlives，isitsodifficultforyoutofindropesandprecipices?\"
^96Hewasextremelycautiousasitisobservedbyalearnedandpicushistorianofpunishingmenwhohadfoundnoaccusersbutthemselves，theImperiallawsnothavingmadeanyprovisionforsounexpectedacase:condemningthereforeafewasawarningtotheirbrethren，hedismissedthemultitudewithindignationandcontempt。^97Notwithstandingthisrealoraffecteddisdain，theintrepidconstancyofthefaithfulwasproductiveofmoresalutaryeffectsonthosemindswhichnatureorgracehaddisposedfortheeasyreceptionofreligioustruth。Onthesemelancholyoccasions，thereweremanyamongtheGentileswhopitied，whoadmired，andwhowereconverted。Thegenerousenthusiasmwascommunicatedfromthesufferertothespectators；
andthebloodofmartyrs，accordingtoawell—knownobservation，becametheseedofthechurch。
[Footnote92:Certatimgloriosaincertaminaruebatur；multiqueavidiustummartyriagloriosismortibusquaerebantur，quamnuncEpiscopatuspravisambitionibusappetuntur。SulpiciusSeverus，l。ii。Hemighthaveomittedthewordnunc。]
[Footnote93:SeeEpist。adRoman。c。4，5，ap。PatresApostol。
tom。ii。p。27。ItsuitedthepurposeofBishopPearsonseeVindiciaeIgnatianae，partii。c。9tojustify，byaprofusionofexamplesandauthorities，thesentimentsofIgnatius。]
[Footnote94:ThestoryofPolyeuctes，onwhichCorneillehasfoundedaverybeautifultragedy，isoneofthemostcelebrated，thoughnotperhapsthemostauthentic，instancesofthisexcessivezeal。Weshouldobserve，thatthe60thcanonofthecouncilofIlliberisrefusesthetitleofmartyrstothosewhoexposedthemselvestodeath，bypubliclydestroyingtheidols。]
[Footnote95:SeeEpictetus，l。iv。c。7，thoughthereissomedoubtwhetherhealludestotheChristians。MarcusAntoninusdeRebussuis，l。xi。c。3LucianinPeregrin。]
[Footnote96:TertullianadScapul。c。5。Thelearnedaredividedbetweenthreepersonsofthesamename，whowereallproconsulsofAsia。IaminclinedtoascribethisstorytoAntoninusPius，whowasafterwardsemperor；andwhomayhavegovernedAsiaunderthereignofTrajan。]
[Footnote97:Mosheim，deRebusChrist，anteConstantin。p。235。]
Butalthoughdevotionhadraised，andeloquencecontinuedtoinflame，thisfeverofthemind，itinsensiblygavewaytothemorenaturalhopesandfearsofthehumanheart，totheloveoflife，theapprehensionofpain，andthehorrorofdissolution。
Themoreprudentrulersofthechurchfoundthemselvesobligedtorestraintheindiscreetardoroftheirfollowers，andtodistrustaconstancywhichtoooftenabandonedtheminthehouroftrial。
^98Asthelivesofthefaithfulbecamelessmortifiedandaustere，theywereeverydaylessambitiousofthehonorsofmartyrdom；andthesoldiersofChrist，insteadofdistinguishingthemselvesbyvoluntarydeedsofheroism，frequentlydesertedtheirpost，andfledinconfusionbeforetheenemywhomitwastheirdutytoresist。Therewerethreemethods，however，ofescapingtheflamesofpersecution，whichwerenotattendedwithanequaldegreeofguilt:first，indeed，wasgenerallyallowedtobeinnocent；thesecondwasofadoubtful，oratleastofavenial，nature；butthethirdimpliedadirectandcriminalapostasyfromtheChristianfaith。
[Footnote98:SeetheEpistleoftheChurchofSmyrna，ap。Euseb。
Hist。Eccles。Liv。c。15
Note:The15thchapterofthe10thbookoftheEccles。
HistoryofEusebiustreatsprincipallyofthemartyrdomofSt。
Polycarp，andmentionssomeothermartyrs。Asingleexampleofweaknessisrelated；itisthatofaPhrygiannamedQuintus，who，appalledatthesightofthewildbeastsandthetortures，renouncedhisfaith。ThisexampleproveslittleagainstthemassofChristians，andthischapterofEusebiusfurnishedmuchstrongerevidenceoftheircouragethanoftheirtimidity。—G
ThisQuintushad，however，rashlyandofhisownaccordappearedbeforethetribunal；andthechurchofSmyrnacondemn\"hisindiscreetardor，\"coupledasitwaswithweaknessinthehouroftrial。—M。]
I。Amoderninquisitorwouldhearwithsurprise，thatwheneveraninformationwasgiventoaRomanmagistrateofanypersonwithinhisjurisdictionwhohadembracedthesectoftheChristians，thechargewascommunicatedtothepartyaccused，andthataconvenienttimewasallowedhimtosettlehisdomesticconcerns，andtoprepareananswertothecrimewhichwasimputedtohim。^99Ifheentertainedanydoubtofhisownconstancy，suchadelayaffordedhimtheopportunityofpreservinghislifeandhonorbyflight，ofwithdrawinghimselfintosomeobscureretirementorsomedistantprovince，andofpatientlyexpectingthereturnofpeaceandsecurity。Ameasuresoconsonanttoreasonwassoonauthorizedbytheadviceandexampleofthemostholyprelates；andseemstohavebeencensuredbyfewexceptbytheMontanists，whodeviatedintoheresybytheirstrictandobstinateadherencetotherigorofancientdiscipline。^100II。
Theprovincialgovernors，whosezealwaslessprevalentthantheiravarice，hadcountenancedthepracticeofsellingcertificates，orlibels，astheywerecalled，whichattested，thatthepersonsthereinmentionedhadcompliedwiththelaws，andsacrificedtotheRomandeities。Byproducingthesefalsedeclarations，theopulentandtimidChristianswereenabledtosilencethemaliceofaninformer，andtoreconcileinsomemeasuretheirsafetywiththeirreligion。Aslightpenanceatonedforthisprofanedissimulation。^101III。IneverypersecutionthereweregreatnumbersofunworthyChristianswhopubliclydisownedorrenouncedthefaithwhichtheyhadprofessed；andwhoconfirmedthesincerityoftheirabjuration，bythelegalactsofburningincenseorofofferingsacrifices。
Someoftheseapostateshadyieldedonthefirstmenaceorexhortationofthemagistrate；whilstthepatienceofothershadbeensubduedbythelengthandrepetitionoftortures。Theaffrightedcountenancesofsomebetrayedtheirinwardremorse，whileothersadvancedwithconfidenceandalacritytothealtarsofthegods。^102Butthedisguisewhichfearhadimposed，subsistednolongerthanthepresentdanger。Assoonastheseverityofthepersecutionwasabated，thedoorsofthechurcheswereassailedbythereturningmultitudeofpenitentswhodetestedtheiridolatroussubmission，andwhosolicitedwithequalardor，butwithvarioussuccess，theirreadmissionintothesocietyofChristians。^103^!
[Footnote99:InthesecondapologyofJustin，thereisaparticularandverycuriousinstanceofthislegaldelay。ThesameindulgencewasgrantedtoaccusedChristians，inthepersecutionofDecius:andCypriandeLapsisexpresslymentionsthe\"Diesnegantibuspraestitutus。\"
Note:TheexamplesdrawnbythehistorianfromJustinMartyrandCyprianrelatealtogethertoparticularcases，andprovenothingastothegeneralpracticeadoptedtowardstheaccused；
itisevident，onthecontrary，fromthesameapologyofSt。
Justin，thattheyhardlyeverobtaineddelay。\"AmannamedLucius，himselfaChristian，presentatanunjustsentencepassedagainstaChristianbythejudgeUrbicus，askedhimwhyhethuspunishedamanwhowasneitheradulterernorrobber，norguiltyofanyothercrimebutthatofavowinghimselfaChristian。\"
Urbicusansweredonlyinthesewords:\"ThoualsohasttheappearanceofbeingaChristian。\"\"Yes，withoutdoubt，\"repliedLucius。Thejudgeorderedthatheshouldbeputtodeathontheinstant。Athird，whocameup，wascondemnedtobebeatenwithrods。Here，then，arethreeexampleswherenodelaywasgranted。
[SurelytheseactsofasinglepassionateandirritatedjudgeprovethegeneralpracticeaslittleasthosequotedbyGibbon。—
M。]Thereexistamultitudeofothers，suchasthoseofPtolemy，Marcellus，&c。Justinexpresslychargesthejudgeswithorderingtheaccusedtobeexecutedwithouthearingthecause。ThewordsofSt。Cyprianareasparticular，andsimplysay，thathehadappointedadaybywhichtheChristiansmusthaverenouncedtheirfaith；thosewhohadnotdoneitbythattimewerecondemned。—
G。Thisconfirmsthestatementinthetext。—M。]
[Footnote100:Tertullianconsidersflightfrompersecutionasanimperfect，butverycriminal，apostasy，asanimpiousattempttoeludethewillofGod，&c。，&c。Hehaswrittenatreatiseonthissubject，seep。536—544，edit。Rigalt。，whichisfilledwiththewildestfanaticismandthemostincoherentdeclamation。
Itis，however，somewhatremarkable，thatTertulliandidnotsuffermartyrdomhimself。]
[Footnote101:Thelibellatici，whoarechieflyknownbythewritingsofCyprian，aredescribedwiththeutmostprecision，inthecopiouscommentaryofMosheim，p。483—489。]
[Footnote*:Thepenancewasnotsoslight，foritwasexactlythesamewiththatofapostateswhohadsacrificedtoidols；itlastedseveralyears。SeeFleunHist。Ecc。v。ii。p。171。—G。]
[Footnote102:Plin。Epist。x。97。DionysiusAlexandrin。ap。
Euseb。l。vi。c。41。Adprimastatimverbaminantisinimicimaximusfratrumnumerusfidemsuamprodidit:necprostratusestpersecutionisimpetu，sedvoluntariolapsuseipsumprostravit。
Cyprian。Opera，p。89。Amongthesedesertersweremanypriests，andevenbishops。]
[Footnote103:ItwasonthisoccasionthatCyprianwrotehistreatiseDeLapsis，andmanyofhisepistles。Thecontroversyconcerningthetreatmentofpenitentapostates，doesnotoccuramongtheChristiansoftheprecedingcentury。Shallweascribethistothesuperiorityoftheirfaithandcourage，ortoourlessintimateknowledgeoftheirhistory!]
[Footnote!:Plinysays，thatthegreaterpartoftheChristianspersistedinavowingthemselvestobeso；thereasonforhisconsultingTrajanwasthepericlitantiumnumerus。Eusebiusl。
vi。c。41doesnotpermitustodoubtthatthenumberofthosewhorenouncedtheirfaithwasinfinitelybelowthenumberofthosewhoboldlyconfessedit。Theprefect，hesaysandhisassessorspresentatthecouncil，werealarmedatseeingthecrowdofChristians；thejudgesthemselvestrembled。Lastly，St。
Cyprianinformsus，thatthegreaterpartofthosewhohadappearedweakbrethreninthepersecutionofDecius，signalizedtheircourageinthatofGallius。Steteruntfortes，etipsodolorepoenitentiaefactiadpraeliumfortioresEpist。lx。p。
142。—G。]
IV。NotwithstandingthegeneralrulesestablishedfortheconvictionandpunishmentoftheChristians，thefateofthosesectaries，inanextensiveandarbitrarygovernment，muststillinagreatmeasure，havedependedontheirownbehavior，thecircumstancesofthetimes，andthetemperoftheirsupremeaswellassubordinaterulers。Zealmightsometimesprovoke，andprudencemightsometimesavertorassuage，thesuperstitiousfuryofthePagans。Avarietyofmotivesmightdisposetheprovincialgovernorseithertoenforceortorelaxtheexecutionofthelaws；andofthesemotivesthemostforciblewastheirregardnotonlyforthepublicedicts，butforthesecretintentionsoftheemperor，aglancefromwhoseeyewassufficienttokindleortoextinguishtheflamesofpersecution。Asoftenasanyoccasionalseveritieswereexercisedinthedifferentpartsoftheempire，theprimitiveChristianslamentedandperhapsmagnifiedtheirownsufferings；butthecelebratednumberoftenpersecutionshasbeendeterminedbytheecclesiasticalwritersofthefifthcentury，whopossessedamoredistinctviewoftheprosperousoradversefortunesofthechurch，fromtheageofNerotothatofDiocletian。TheingeniousparallelsofthetenplaguesofEgypt，andofthetenhornsoftheApocalypse，firstsuggestedthiscalculationtotheirminds；andintheirapplicationofthefaithofprophecytothetruthofhistory，theywerecarefultoselectthosereignswhichwereindeedthemosthostiletotheChristiancause。^104Butthesetransientpersecutionsservedonlytorevivethezealandtorestorethedisciplineofthefaithful；
andthemomentsofextraordinaryrigorwerecompensatedbymuchlongerintervalsofpeaceandsecurity。Theindifferenceofsomeprinces，andtheindulgenceofothers，permittedtheChristianstoenjoy，thoughnotperhapsalegal，yetanactualandpublic，tolerationoftheirreligion。
[Footnote104:SeeMosheim，p。97。SulpiciusSeveruswasthefirstauthorofthiscomputation；thoughheseemeddesirousofreservingthetenthandgreatestpersecutionforthecomingoftheAntichrist。]
ChapterXVI:ConductTowardsTheChristians，FromNeroToConstantine。
PartV。
TheapologyofTertulliancontainstwoveryancient，verysingular，butatthesametimeverysuspicious，instancesofImperialclemency；theedictspublishedbyTiberius，andbyMarcusAntoninus，anddesignednotonlytoprotecttheinnocenceoftheChristians，buteventoproclaimthosestupendousmiracleswhichhadattestedthetruthoftheirdoctrine。Thefirstoftheseexamplesisattendedwithsomedifficultieswhichmightperplexascepticalmind。^105Wearerequiredtobelieve，thatPontiusPilateinformedtheemperoroftheunjustsentenceofdeathwhichhehadpronouncedagainstaninnocent，and，asitappeared，adivine，person；andthat，withoutacquiringthemerit，heexposedhimselftothedangerofmartyrdom；thatTiberius，whoavowedhiscontemptforallreligion，immediatelyconceivedthedesignofplacingtheJewishMessiahamongthegodsofRome；thathisservilesenateventuredtodisobeythecommandsoftheirmaster；thatTiberius，insteadofresentingtheirrefusal，contentedhimselfwithprotectingtheChristiansfromtheseverityofthelaws，manyyearsbeforesuchlawswereenacted，orbeforethechurchhadassumedanydistinctnameorexistence；andlastly，thatthememoryofthisextraordinarytransactionwaspreservedinthemostpublicandauthenticrecords，whichescapedtheknowledgeofthehistoriansofGreeceandRome，andwereonlyvisibletotheeyesofanAfricanChristian，whocomposedhisapologyonehundredandsixtyyearsafterthedeathofTiberius。TheedictofMarcusAntoninusissupposedtohavebeentheeffectofhisdevotionandgratitudeforthemiraculousdeliverancewhichhehadobtainedintheMarcomannicwar。Thedistressofthelegions，theseasonabletempestofrainandhail，ofthunderandoflightning，andthedismayanddefeatofthebarbarians，havebeencelebratedbytheeloquenceofseveralPaganwriters。IftherewereanyChristiansinthatarmy，itwasnaturalthattheyshouldascribesomemerittotheferventprayers，which，inthemomentofdanger，theyhadofferedupfortheirownandthepublicsafety。Butwearestillassuredbymonumentsofbrassandmarble，bytheImperialmedals，andbytheAntoninecolumn，thatneithertheprincenorthepeopleentertainedanysenseofthissignalobligation，sincetheyunanimouslyattributetheirdeliverancetotheprovidenceofJupiter，andtotheinterpositionofMercury。Duringthewholecourseofhisreign，MarcusdespisedtheChristiansasaphilosopher，andpunishedthemasasovereign。^106
[Footnote105:ThetestimonygivenbyPontiusPilateisfirstmentionedbyJustin。ThesuccessiveimprovementswhichthestoryacquiredasifhaspassedthroughthehandsofTertullian，Eusebius，Epiphanius，Chrysostom，Orosius，GregoryofTours，andtheauthorsoftheseveraleditionsoftheactsofPilateareveryfairlystatedbyDomCalmetDissertat。surl\'Ecriture，tom。
iii。p。651，&c。]
[Footnote106:Onthismiracle，asitiscommonlycalled，ofthethunderinglegion，seetheadmirablecriticismofMr。Moyle，inhisWorks，vol。ii。p。81—390。]
[Footnote*:Gibbon，withthisphrase，andthatbelow，whichadmitstheinjusticeofMarcus，hasdexterouslyglossedoveroneofthemostremarkablefactsintheearlyChristianhistory，thatthereignofthewisestandmosthumaneoftheheathenemperorswasthemostfataltotheChristians。MostwritershaveascribedthepersecutionsunderMarcustothelatentbigotryofhischaracter；Mosheim，totheinfluenceofthephilosophicparty；